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United States Patent |
5,239,985
|
Muniz
,   et al.
|
August 31, 1993
|
Electrode to destroy renal stones
Abstract
A medical electrode arrangement for urological use, has a core with an
aperture going therethrough. This aperture receives a first electrode. A
cage is defined by at least a side wall having first and second ends. The
first end has a receiving unit for receiving a second electrode. An inner
space of said cage is situated between the first and second ends and is
surrounded by the side wall. The inner space is adapted to receive the
core with a first electrode and a second electrode. A plurality of
openings penetrating through the side wall of the core and extend from the
first end toward the second end.
Inventors:
|
Muniz; Manuel S. (Havana, CU);
Zamora; Juan R. (Havana, CU);
Gutierrez; Berto O. H. (Havana, CU)
|
Assignee:
|
Medicuba (Havana, CU)
|
Appl. No.:
|
870211 |
Filed:
|
April 16, 1992 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S. Class: |
601/4; 367/147; 606/128 |
Intern'l Class: |
A61B 017/22 |
Field of Search: |
128/24 AA,24 EL,660.03,639
606/128
367/147
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
2559227 | Jul., 1951 | Rieber | 128/24.
|
4608983 | Sep., 1986 | Muller et al. | 128/328.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
2635635 | Feb., 1978 | DE | 128/328.
|
Primary Examiner: Smith; Ruth S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lackenbach Siegel Marzullo Aronson & Greenspan
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of Ser. No. 611,468; filed Nov. 6, 1990 now
abandoned which is a continuation of Ser. No. 186,616, filed Apr. 27, 1988
now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A medical electrode assembly for use in apparatus for destroying renal
stones, comprising:
an outer tubular sleeve having a conical end portion and an open end
portion;
a first conductive electrode having a longitudinal axis;
a core member in the outer sleeve extending coaxially therewith and having
an open end portion and a conical part complimentary with said conical end
portion of the tubular sleeve, said core having an axial bore for
receiving said first conductive electrode;
said first conductive electrode extending in said bore along said
longitudinal axis and having a conical tip at one end, a slot situated at
an opposite end thereof, said conical tip extending outwardly of the
conical end part of the core;
a cage mounted on said outer sleeve, said cage having a solid tubular
member with an interior part engaging said outer sleeve, said cage having
four arms spaced circumferentially from each other and extending coaxially
away from said solid tubular member, ends of said arms remote from said
tubular member being bent inwardly and joined together to define a
receiving portion, said receiving portion having a substantially flat
interior part facing said first electrode and a central aperture coaxial
with said longitudinal axis of said first electrode;
a second conductive electrode having a conical tip with a base and a
substantially cylindrical engaging portion, said second conductive
electrode engaging said central aperture, said base of the conical tip
being substantially larger than a diameter of the cylinder of the engaging
portion, so that parts of said base extend outwardly from said cylindrical
engaging portion to define substantially flat shoulders, said
substantially flat shoulders engaging said substantially flat interior
part of the receiving portion to stabilize positioning of said second
electrode within said receiving portion;
said second conductive electrode extending into said tubular cage and
having its conical tip axially juxtaposed to the conical tip of said first
electrode and separated therefrom by a gap.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to medical electrodes and more particularly to
medical electrodes which operation is based on creation of shock waves
adapted to destroy renal stones.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many types of medical electrodes known in the industry.
One of such electrodes is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,150,430. A typical
medical electrode usually consists of a core with a rigid sharp end and a
socket with a central aperture. Six electrode apertures are situated at
the perimeter thereof and have center lines which are parallel to a center
line of the central aperture. A cage of the electrode is an additional
component of the socket formed by six elements welded to hold an apex.
A technical drawback of this electrode is that it is not interchangeable
and can be used only once.
Another electrode is described in German Patent 3316837. This electrode
consists of a cage formed by three elements that support a mandrel. An
apex is placed in a cylindrical shaped bar and is changeable and
adjustable. A core which ends in the mandrel holds the apex.
The mass of the mandrel causes increase in kinetic moment which results in
the increase of the stresses in the elements supporting the mandrel. This
decreases the life span and reliability of the electrode. Manufacturing of
such electrodes is complex and their use leads to a significant loss of
energy.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a partially cross-sectional view of the electrode in the
assembled condition.
FIG. 2 shows a partially perspective view of the cage.
FIG. 3 shows a view according to the sectional line A--A of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIG. 1 where an electrode assembly according to the
present invention is best shown. The assembly consists of a core 1 with an
outside surface 8 and a threaded aperture 2 which goes therethrough. A
first electrode 3 is provided with a first end 4 of substantially conical
configuration which can be welded to the electrode.
It is also shown in FIG. 1 that an interchangeable cage 5 consists of
identical arms 16 extending from a central element 18 having a central
aperture 6. A second electrode 7 is provided with an elongated part 20 and
a conical part 22. The second electrode 7 is connected to the cage in such
a manner that its elongated part 20 engages the central aperture 6 and the
second conical end 22 faces the first conical end 4 of the first
electrode. It is illustrated in FIG. 1 that the outside surface 8 of the
core is received within the arms 16 of the cage. In the assembled
condition of the electrode (see FIG. 1), the arms 16 extend substantially
along the length of the core. In another form of the cage illustrated in
FIG. 2 an upper part 22 and a lower part 24 are shown. The central element
18 having the central aperture 6 is situated at a top of the upper part
22. A plurality of arms in general and four arms 16 in particular extend
outwardly and downwardly from the central element. It is shown in FIG. 2
that a plurality of elongated side openings 26 extending downwardly from
the central part 18 separate the arms 16 from each other. The side
openings do not extend through the entire length of the upper part and a
solid connecting part 28 connects the upper part 22 and the lower part 24.
It is shown in FIG. 1 that an outer sleeve 32 covers an outside surface of
the core or central element 8.
It is shown in FIG. 1 that a diameter of the elongated part 20 of the
second electrode 7 is smaller than the base of the conical part 22. In
view of that, portions of the base extend outwardly from the cylindrical
elongated part 20 to define shoulders. According to FIG. 1, such shoulders
has a straight-lined configurations.
It is also illustrated in FIG. 1 that the interior surface of the central
element 18 has a flat, straight-lined configuration. In the assembled
condition of the present invention, the substantially flat shoulders
engage the substantially flat interior surface of the central element,
preventing the second electrode from being withdrawn from the cage and
stabilizing positioning of the second electrode within the central element
18.
FIG. 3 illustrates that in the area of connection between the central
element 18 and the arms, each two adjacent arms are positioned to each
other at an angle of approximately 90.degree..
FIG. 1 shows that in the assembled condition of the electrode arrangement
the conical part or a tip 4 of the first electrode and the conical part or
a tip 22 of the second electrode face each other within the inner space of
the cage at a level of the openings 26.
Therefore, during use of the assembly impulses or waves generated as a
result of the operation of electrodes penetrate beyond the assembly
substantially through the openings 26 within the cage.
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